Flying from Sydney Airport (SYD) to Christchurch Airport (CHC): what you need to know
Around 3 hours 5 minutes is how long you can expect to be travelling on a direct flight from Sydney Airport to Christchurch Airport.
Christchurch is two hours ahead of Sydney and is in the UTC+13 timezone.
Every week, there are 31 Sydney Airport to Christchurch Airport flights. If you prefer to be on board as early as possible, select the 07:50 Emirates flight. If you'd rather make the most of your time before flying, the last departure is at 18:55 with Qantas.
To ensure you catch your SYD to CHC flight, allow plenty of time to check in and drop off your luggage. Arriving two hours ahead of international departures and one hour before domestic flights is the general rule.
Travelling during a peak time like July? School holidays and other high seasons can lead to longer queues at airport checkpoints. Play things extra safe and arrive up to four hours before an international flight and two hours before a domestic departure.
You'll find a variety of airlines operating direct flights from Sydney Airport to Christchurch Airport. When you're ready to kick off your Christchurch adventure, let one of these carriers fly you to this must-see part of New Zealand:
The airline most travellers prefer to fly with on this route is Qantas.
The carrier with the top on-time arrival performance for SYD to CHC flights is Air New Zealand.
We make it a breeze to book a flight with a stopover. To see all your options for tickets from Sydney Airport to Christchurch Airport, deselect 'Direct flights only.' Then, pick a flight with a stop long enough to visit the city of your choice. Top stopovers between SYD and CHC include:
Melbourne Tullamarine Airport
Brisbane Airport
Auckland International Airport
How to find the cheapest flights from Sydney Airport (SYD) to Christchurch Airport (CHC)
$329 is the lowest price for a one-way Sydney Airport to Christchurch Airport flight. Return flights start at $557. These fares can change depending on demand and availability.
To find cheap tickets from SYD to CHC, book as early as you can. Airlines usually offer lower fares when flights are first made available.
Plan your trip for May. That's the cheapest month for flights from Sydney Airport to Christchurch Airport. If you're flexible on when you fly, try out the 'Whole month' tool to find the lowest price across every month.
Snapping up cheap flights from SYD to CHC is easy with Price Alerts. All you need to do is set up one of these automatic alerts and we'll let you know when fares go down.
Find the ideal flight for you by using the filters. To see the 'Fastest,' 'Best' or 'Cheapest' flights from Sydney Airport to Christchurch Airport, use the 'Sort by' function. You can also filter by airline, arrival and departure times, and number of stops.
Handy information about Sydney Airport (SYD)
66% of flights that leave from Sydney Airport reach their destination on schedule.
Central Sydney to Sydney Airport is around 8 kilometres. Depending on traffic, it'll take you about 20 minutes to get there if you're catching a taxi, ride-sharing or driving.
You can expect a journey time of around 15 minutes when using public transport.
Booked an early flight from Sydney Airport to Christchurch Airport? Avoid the stress of rushing to the airport (and sneak in some extra snooze time) by picking one of these hotels close to SYD:
Arriving at Christchurch Airport (CHC)
The last thing you need is a long trip to your hotel if you're getting in late on a Sydney Airport to Christchurch Airport flight. Reserve one of these accommodation options near CHC instead:
Go where the road takes you with a Christchurch Airport rental car. Pick up a set of wheels from Yes rentals, Discount Car Rentals or mode rentals and discover more of Christchurch and beyond.
Get the best deal by booking your vehicle from Christchurch Airport around three weeks in advance of your trip.
When to fly to Christchurch Airport (CHC)
April is the busiest month for flights from Sydney Airport to Christchurch Airport. To avoid the crowds, travel to Christchurch in March.
The warmest month in Christchurch is January, with temperatures ranging between 10ºC and 24ºC. Lock in your flights from Sydney Airport to Christchurch Airport in this month if you enjoy this type of weather.
July sees average temperatures of between 1ºC and 12ºC. Look for cheap tickets from SYD to CHC sometime then if you'd rather travel in cooler conditions.
Explore more of New Zealand
You've seen Christchurch, now it's time to explore more of New Zealand. Journey about 322 kilometres north-east to Wellington to check off its popular sights. From Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa to Wellington Botanic Gardens and Weta Workshop, you'll have a packed itinerary ahead.
Dunedin is another favourite destination in New Zealand and is around 290 kilometres south-west of Christchurch. No trip is complete without a visit to Dunedin Botanic Garden, Saint Kilda Beach and Sandfly Bay.






















